YouVersion and OneHope are thrilled to announce the next language for the Bible App for Kids: Dutch. Each time we introduce another language into the Bible App for Kids, children all over the world — and even kids right next door — discover the opportunity to fall in love with God’s Word in their own heart language. The Bible App for Kids is already available in Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish, and most recently Russian — with many more languages still to come!

About the Bible App for Kids

The Bible App for Kids is designed to give kids a delight-filled Bible experience all their own. Its interactive animations and kid-friendly navigation invite children to explore all 41 of its Bible stories. The Bible App for Kids is available for free on Apple, Android, and Kindle tablets and smartphones:

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Comments Off on In New Bible App for Kids Story, “Journeys for Jesus,” Paul Faces Danger Throughout his Travels

Available now in the Bible App for Kids, “Journeys for Jesus” shows that even though it’s really hard for Paul to go to faraway places to tell others about Jesus, his work helps a lot of people — and it’s still helping us today! This thrilling new adventure follows Paul on his travels through much of the New Testament book of Acts: chapters 13–14; 16; 20–21; 25; and 27–28.

When God’s Spirit leads Paul to tell as many people as he can about Jesus, a lot of the people he visits are so happy that they start churches. But then, some other people — people who don’t like the things Paul is saying — have him put in jail. Then soldiers put Paul on a boat to take him to Rome, a big city where he will have to stand before a judge.

Storms are coming as they load the boat, but the captain decides they should go anyway. Their boat gets caught in a giant storm that tosses them around for several days, and eeveryone is afraid they’ll sink. But an angel comes to Paul at night and says, “Don’t be scared, Paul! God is looking out for you — and all the people with you, too!” Soon after, just like the angel said, even though their boat crashes, every single person makes it safely to an island nearby.

They stay on the island until all the storms pass. While they’re there, Paul prays for a very sick man, and God heals him. Eventually, another boat comes and picks them up, and they continue on toward Rome. When they finally get there, because Paul is still a prisoner, soldiers chain him up in a house. While Paul waits for his trial to start, he writes letters to many of the churches that he had visited during his travels. Those letters that Paul wrote are in the Bible now… and we still read them today!

If you already have the Bible App for Kids, all you need to do to get “Journeys for Jesus” is open the app and tap the new story icon. But even if you don’t have the app yet, getting it is easy — and it’s free! Just click one of the buttons below.

About the Bible App for Kids

Already installed on more than 7 million devices, the Bible App for Kids comes from YouVersion, makers of the Bible App. In partnership with OneHope, the Bible App for Kids was designed specifically to provide your children with a delight-filled Bible experience all their own. Here are all the places where you can get the Bible App for Kids:

Now the Bible App for Kids can actually read teaching questions to your children — and in every language that the Bible App for Kids supports! Many Bible App for Kids stories feature “hidden” activity questions designed to help your kids remember what they’re learning. When your child discovers a thought bubble in a story, they can tap it to reveal fun multiple choice, true/false, and yes/no questions. And now, for the first time ever, they can tap a speaker button above the question, and the Bible App for Kids narrator will read it to them! (Each quiz offers positive reinforcement when your child taps the correct answer — and a hint when they don’t.)

Bible App for Kids stories have always featured teaching questions, but for kids to answer, they either needed to be able to read, or they had to get help from someone who could. But now with audio, everybody can play — even if they can’t read yet!

Here’s how to get your audio questions:

If this is your first time installing the Bible App for Kids, you’ll have this feature right away. But if you already have the Bible App for Kids, first you’ll need to update your app to the latest version. Then you’ll need to update each of your Bible stories individually. (Don’t worry! It’s easy, and your kids won’t lose any stars they’ve achieved or any collectibles they’ve gathered.) Once you have the new version, each time you tap on a story that you don’t have audio for, the Bible App for Kids will tell you there’s an update for it. Just tap to update, and as soon as it’s downloaded, that story will have its new audio questions!

About the Bible App for Kids

The Bible App for Kids is the newest app from YouVersion, makers of the Bible App, designed to give children a delight-filled Bible experience all their own. Developed in partnership with OneHope, the Bible App for Kids has already been installed on over 7 million Apple, Android, and Kindle devices, and it’s always completely free. Kids from all over the world are now enjoying the Bible App for Kids — in Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish, and now in Russian!

In the latest story from the Bible App for Kids, “From Enemy to Friend,” Saul is on his way to Damascus when the risen Jesus stops him — to change his heart. In this story, based on Acts 9:1–19 from the New Testament, Saul is a Pharisee, a very important religious leader. When Saul first hears that Jesus has come back to life, he believes it’s a lie, so he works hard to keep people from following Jesus. One day, Saul heads toward a town called Damascus to put some of Jesus’ followers in jail. As he’s walking down the road, a bright light blinds him, and he hears a loud voice saying, “Saul, Saul… Why are you so mean to me? Now you will no longer see.” It’s Jesus!

Jesus tells Saul to go on to Damascus. But because Saul can’t see, other people have to help him get there. Even while this is happening, Jesus tells one of His followers, a man named Ananias, to go and pray for Saul. Ananias is very afraid of Saul because Saul has been putting Jesus’ followers in jail. But Ananias trusts Jesus, so he goes anyway.

When Ananias prays for Saul, God performs a miracle: Saul can see again! Saul gets baptized to show other people that he wants to follow Jesus, too. Saul wants to tell everyone he can about Jesus, all over the world. In fact, because Jesus changed Saul’s heart so much, Saul even changes his name: to Paul.

To get “From Enemy to Friend” right now, just open the Bible App for Kids and tap the new story icon. If you don’t have the Bible App for Kids yet, it’s easy to get, and it’s always free! Just click one of the buttons below.

About the Bible App for Kids

Already installed on more than 7 million devices, the Bible App for Kids comes from YouVersion, makers of the Bible App. In partnership with OneHope, the Bible App for Kids was designed specifically to provide your children with a delight-filled Bible experience all their own. Here are all the places where you can get the Bible App for Kids:

Did you know that more than 160 million people all over the world speak Russian? And ever since Russian was added to the Bible App almost 5 years ago, millions of you have been actively participating in the worldwide YouVersion community. Today, together with our partner OneHope, we’re pleased to announce the launch of the Bible App for Kids in Russian: Библия для детей. Now, more children than ever have the opportunity to enjoy a Bible experience all their own.

All you need to do for your kids to experience the Bible App for Kids in Russian is make sure you have the app installed. When you open the app, if the default language on your device is one of those supported: Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, English, Korean, or Spanish, the audio will play in that language, and any text will appear in that language, too!

About the Bible App for Kids

The Bible App for Kids is the newest app from YouVersion, makers of the Bible App, designed to give children a delight-filled Bible experience all their own. Developed in partnership with OneHope, the Bible App for Kids has already been installed on over 7 million Apple, Android, and Kindle devices, and it’s always completely free. Kids from all over the world are now enjoying the Bible App for Kids — in Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish, and now in Russian!

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Comments Off on In New Bible App for Kids Story, “The Walls Go Up,” God Helps Nehemiah and His Friends Rebuild Jerusalem

Available now in the Bible App for Kids, “The Walls Go Up” tells the story of how Nehemiah and the people living in Jerusalem rebuild the wall surrounding their city. In Nehemiah 1-4, Nehemiah is sad when he hears that his friends are in trouble because enemies destroyed the town where they lived. Nehemiah asks King Artaxerxes for permission to go to Jerusalem to try to help them fix the walls, and the king says it’s okay with him. Even though things are worse in Jerusalem than Nehemiah imagined, still he tells the people there that with God’s help, they can do it.

Together they fix all the gates, then start on the walls. When their enemies get mad and try to stop them from rebuilding, the people just hold a tool in one hand and a sword in the other and keep right on working! Nehemiah 6:15-16 says they finished in just 52 days! Then in Nehemiah 8:1-3 and 10:28-29, Ezra the priest reads God’s law to all the people, and they say, “Thank you, God, for helping us rebuild our wall! Whatever you say, we want to do it all!”

If you already have the Bible App for Kids, all you need to do to get “The Walls Go Up” is open the app and tap the new story icon. But even if you don’t have the app yet, getting it is easy — and it’s free! Just click one of the buttons below.

About the Bible App for Kids

Already installed on more than 7 million devices, the Bible App for Kids comes from YouVersion, makers of the Bible App. In partnership with OneHope, the Bible App for Kids was designed specifically to provide your children with a delight-filled Bible experience all their own. Here are all the places where you can get the Bible App for Kids:

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Comments Off on New Bible App for Kids Story: Elijah against Ahab and the Prophets of Baal: “Fire From Heaven”

In the latest story from the Bible App for Kids, “Fire From Heaven,” God’s prophet Elijah faces off against false prophets of a pretend god. Based on 1 Kings 16:29–17:1, 18:1, and 18:17–39 in the Old Testament, “Fire From Heaven” begins with King Ahab, the worst king that God’s people ever had. Ahab’s bad wife Jezebel gets him and God’s people to follow a fake god called Baal. God’s prophet Elijah visits King Ahab and tells him to bring Baal’s false prophets and all of God’s people to meet him on a mountain.

When everyone gets there, Elijah gives them a challenge. “Baal’s prophets and I will each make a sacrifice. The god who sends fire and burns up our sacrifices is the one true God.” Elijah lets Baal’s prophets go first, but even after they pray and chant to their “god” for hours and hours, still no fire comes.

Next it’s Elijah’s turn. Elijah offers God a sacrifice, then digs a ditch around his altar and pours water over everything to make it completely wet. Then, as soon as Elijah prays, God rains down fire from heaven. But God’s fire doesn’t only burn up Elijah’s sacrifice; it burns up the altar…and even all of the water! When the people see that God is the only God who’s true, they bow and tell Him, “We will worship only You!”

To get “Fire From Heaven” right now, just open the Bible App for Kids and tap the new story icon. If you don’t have the Bible App for Kids yet, it’s easy to get, and it’s always free! Just click one of the buttons below.

About the Bible App for Kids

The Bible App for Kids is the newest app from YouVersion, makers of the Bible App, designed to give children a delight-filled Bible experience all their own. Developed in partnership with OneHope, the Bible App for Kids has already been installed on over 7 million Apple, Android, and Kindle devices, and it’s always completely free. Kids from all over the world are now enjoying the Bible App for Kids — in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese!

“…those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”—Jesus, from John 4:14 (NLT)

Thank you for joining us for our first-ever Family Bible Week. And now that you’ve tasted this living water, don’t stop! Here are just a few ways that you can continue to build on the many successes you’ve been sharing with us during Family Bible Week:

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.Psalm 119:105 (NASB)

Pick Your Next Plan.

Many families told us they really enjoyed reading a Bible Plan together. Bible Plans are a great way you can keep leading your family back to the well of God’s Word again and again. Which one will you do next?

“Our daughters signed up for their own account at bible.com. All four of us love discussing what we’re learning, even recommending Bible Plans to each other. We’ve been sharing verses and making comments. Jesus has really come alive to our girls in this way; they’ve both felt Him, especially when it comes time to pick a new one.”

…“Write my answer plainly on tablets…. This vision is for a future time. It describes
the end, and it will be fulfilled. …wait patiently, for it will surely take place….Habakkuk 2:2–3 (NLT)

Take Your Family Verse Further.

Did your family find a great theme verse during Family Bible Week? One that inspires you with vision? Have a family art project to write it out in huge letters on nice quality paper. Then place it prominently in your home, so you can remind yourselves every day what you value. You might even consider having your Family Verse framed!

Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family],giving precedence and showing honor to one another.Romans 8:12 (AMP)

Celebrate Each Other.

On Mother’s Day, we suggested you share a Bible verse to let all the moms in your life know how much they mean to you. But you can make every day “Family Day.” Whether it’s by posting a Verse Image to their Facebook page, or even just sending a text, encourage the people you love with inspiration from God’s Word.

“Last week at the beach, I took a picture and searched for just the right Bible verse to make a Verse Image. On Mother’s Day, I sent it to my mother – she was blown away! Even though we are thousands of miles apart, I will always remember my mother’s love and compassion that enabled me to endure the obstacles throughout the course of my life.”

My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
What you learn from them will crown you with grace
and be a chain of honor around your neck.Proverbs 1:8–9 (NLT)

Invest in Your Family’s Spiritual Life.

On Thursday we listed seven tips that could help you lead your family spiritually. When you maintain consistent, healthy relationships with each member of your family (that is, genuine, safe, and fun), those things will happen naturally. If you regularly think about your faith, and you regularly visit with your spouse and children, faith will be a regular part of those conversations.

“On the way to school, instead of the typical middle school chatter, we have our daughter read aloud the Verse of the Day and then explain in her own words what she thinks it means. It’s become a highlight and my own day feels “off” if we ever miss for some reason. I’ve noticed she reads these even on the weekends! It’s an excellent way to get something started with your family.”

…commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine….
Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home
and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed
and when you are getting up….Deuteronomy 18:11-20 (NLT)

Enjoy Family Story Time… Every Day.

In partnership with OneHope, we designed the Bible App for Kids to give your kids (and grandkids) a delight-filled Bible experience all their own. And, although it already features more than 30 stories, many more are still to come. Enjoy new stories with your kids, and revisit their favorites again and again.

“The Bible for Kids is a smashing success with our foster children, ages 2 & 3. It was the number one activity that they asked for – “Can we do Bible?”

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God….
for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ….
God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished….Philippians 1:3–6 (NLT)

Keep Sharing Your Stories!

Your commitment to living out the love of Jesus in your families this week has been inspiring. We’ve loved receiving your stories, and we’re looking forward to sharing many of them to inspire other families. So please keep them coming!

Available now in the Bible App for Kids, “Wherever You Go” is about Ruth and Naomi, a classic story of devotion to God and family. Based on Ruth 1–2 and Ruth 4:9–17, when bad weather means they can’t grow enough crops for food, Naomi and her family have to move away from Israel. Sadly, Naomi’s husband dies in their new country. But then her two sons marry women named Orpah and Ruth, and they all take care of each other. Unfortunately, after a while, both of Naomi’s sons die too, leaving her, Orpah, and Ruth all without husbands.

A few years later, when people in Israel are able to start growing food again, Naomi decides she should go back. But because she knows that life there will be very hard, Naomi tells her daughters-in-law that they should stay in their own country with their families. Orpah decides to stay, but Ruth tells Naomi, “No. I belong with you, and I belong to God, too.”

When Ruth and Naomi get to Israel, there are no jobs for them, so they are very poor. Ruth follows some farmworkers into a field, gathering up the grain that they leave behind so that she and Naomi can make bread. The farmworkers tell their rich boss Boaz about Ruth, and he comes out to meet her. When Boaz sees how hard Ruth works to take care of her mother-in-law, he falls in love with her and asks her to marry him. Ruth marries Boaz and thanks God for taking care of her and Naomi. But what Ruth doesn’t know is that she is a very important part of God’s big plan; one day her great-grandson will become Israel’s greatest king: King David!

If you already have the Bible App for Kids, all you need to do to get “Wherever You Go” is open the Bible App for Kids and tap the new story icon. But even if you don’t have the app yet, getting it is easy — and it’s free! Just click one of the buttons below.

About the Bible App for Kids

The Bible App for Kids is the newest app from YouVersion, makers of the Bible App, designed to give children a delight-filled Bible experience all their own. Developed in partnership with OneHope, the Bible App for Kids has already been installed on over 6 million Apple, Android, and Kindle devices, and it’s always completely free. Kids from all over the world are now enjoying the Bible App for Kids — in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese!

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.Psalm 37:23 (NLT)

You want to lead your kids in a growing relationship with Christ. But with your active family’s busy schedule, it can be hard to find the time. You may even feel unqualified to lead your children. If you’re like most parents, you’re still trying to figure out what faith looks like in your own life.

To help you get started, we’ve gathered some of our favorite tips from Focus on the Family. Don’t try to use all of these ideas at once. If you’ll be intentional to phase them in over time, they should gradually begin happening naturally:

1. Make it fun.

Engaging with God’s will through His Word isn’t school textbooks and quizzes; your family life is an adventure. Talk with your kids about things relevant to their lives, helping them apply biblical principles with age-appropriate language they can understand. Don’t try to “teach.” Encourage exploration, with gentle course corrections where they need it.

2. Keep it simple.

The average adult can listen for about 30 seconds before their mind wants to wander. Kids’ attention spans are even shorter. So instead of trying to “explain,” try asking leading questions. Feed your child’s natural curiosity. Your questions — and theirs — will fuel meaningful conversations.

3. Watch for opportunities.

Teachable moments happen everywhere in our everyday lives. When you see a squirrel burying an acorn, marvel together at how God provides for us. When you see trash in the park, say it makes you sad because God wants us to take good care of His earth. Make simple, connectable observations.

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (NIV)

4. Be an example.

Live out your faith. Allow God’s Spirit to speak into your life, constantly transforming you into the person He wants you to become. You can’t lead your children to places you haven’t been. And connecting with the Bible — every day — is one of the best ways we know to grow.

5. Schedule time together.

Schedule regular times to talk at home about faith and spiritual things. Then demonstrate how we put faith into action. Lead your family to be spiritual contributors, not spiritual consumers. Make it a family priority to attend church regularly — and to participate. Then stay consistent, both at home and in your community of faith.

6. Talk to God together.

Lead your kids in praying about the things they care about. And lead them to never stop taking those things to God. Model for them how they can listen for His still, small voice. Keep track of things you’re praying for together, and celebrate when God answers. Demonstrate for your children what a life of worship and gratitude looks like.

7. Make it fun.

No, that’s not a mistake — this one is so important, we put it on our list twice! When your kids enjoy exploring their faith with you, they’ll look forward to family time together. They’ll even initiate it! Even better, you’ll be giving them the most important part of their faith: they’ll own their own spiritual growth, continually drawing closer to God.

Children, do what your parents tell you.
This is only right. “Honor your father and mother”
is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it,
namely, “so you will live well and have a long life.”

Fathers, don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them.
Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.Ephesians 6:1–4

We’d like to thank Focus on the Family for providing their excellent resources on building your family’s faith.